Highlights
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the first new 2D Mario title in 11 years, celebrating Mario's history with 12 playable characters, including Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Toadette, and Yoshi.
- Fans may be disappointed that Yoshi is unable to use power-ups in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, as they are a big drae of the experience.
- With Yoshi being an easy mode option that cancels out some of the game's most interesting content, fans have to be patient and hope Yoshi will return to the spotlight in the next game.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder was released earlier this month, becoming the first new 2D Mario title to come out in 11 years. Wonder is a celebration of Mario's storied history, and features some of his closest friends as playable characters. In total, the title offers 12 characters for players to choose from, and, though some Wonder characters are simply recolors, modern series mainstays Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Toadette, and Yoshi are all available for a journey solo or in co-op. One character, Yoshi, stands apart from the others, as they boast unique characteristics to make players' experiences a bit easier. However, this quality comes with a significant drawback, which sees Super Mario Bros. Wonder put Yoshi fans between a rock and a hard place.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder transports Mario and his pals to the Flower Kingdom, a neighbor of the Mushroom Kingdom, where they meet its ruler Prince Florian. The Flower Kingdom is home to a special item, called Wonder Flowers, which have a wacky and reality-bending effect on the people and environments with which they make contact. Bowser first uses a flower to fuse himself with the Koopa Clown Car and Prince Florian's Castle, forming the sentient Bowser Castle. Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, and their friends set out to save the Flower Kingdom from Bowser's villainous wonder effects and stop the Koopa King before he can pull off a wonder that threatens to destroy both the Mushroom and Flower Kingdoms.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Relegates Yoshi to the Sidelines
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is meant to be enjoyed by the full range of Mario fans. As such, the title features certain elements that are tailored to younger fans and those who struggle with its 2D platforming. One of those elements is Wonder's invincible playable characters, who can take an unlimited number of hits without losing a life, though falling out of bounds still counts. Of these characters, one stands out, as they have long been a member of the main cast of characters. That member is Yoshi, who joins Nabbit, as well as other colorful Yoshi variants, as Super Mario Bros. Wonder's easy mode option.
The problem is that Super Mario Bros. Wonder's Yoshi comes with a significant trade-off. Yoshi is unable to use the title's power-ups, a major element that differentiates Wonder from its predecessors and a significant draw for fans. Were this trait extended only to the Red Yoshi, Yellow Yoshi, and Light-Blue Yoshi, it would have made more sense, as their names differentiate them as additional side characters. As it currently stands, Yoshi is the only legacy Super Mario character to be relegated to the support role in Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Puts Yoshi Fans in a Tough Spot
Yoshi's fans have a lot to consider before embarking on their journey across Super Mario Bros. Wonder's Flower Kingdom. The adorable dinosaur is capable of completing the entire adventure solo. However, the experience for fans who do not require their invincible status may leave them feeling a little left out. Adding insult to injury, less popular characters like Toadette, Blue Toad, and Yellow Toad are all capable of utilizing the full range of power-ups, making Yoshi's relegation all the more palpable.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a fun and fresh evolution of what made the character so popular in the first place. Introducing various effects that bend the reality of the title's characters and courses, Wonder stands as a celebration of the series' past and the bright future ahead. The place Yoshi has in that future is yet unknown, but Wonder's positioning of the character behind figures like Blue Toad and Toadette has led to some understandable fan concern. For now, Yoshi fans are happy to see the character capable of venturing out on a solo adventure in Super Mario Bros. Wonder and hope to see the character returning to the spotlight in future Super Mario titles.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is available now, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
